Bun Commands

Using Bun with React Native (especially via Expo) is becoming popular because Bun is much faster than npm/yarn for installs and scripts.

Below is a practical command reference table for working with React Native + Expo using Bun 👇

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🚀 Bun + React Native (Expo) Command Cheat Sheet

🧱 1. Create Projects

Purpose	Command
Create Expo app (recommended)	bun create expo
Create Expo app with template	bun create expo myApp -t
Create blank Expo app	bun create expo myApp --template blank
Create TypeScript Expo app	bun create expo myApp --template blank-typescript
Create Expo app (specific template)	bun create expo myApp --template tabs
Initialize existing project with Bun	bun init

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📦 2. Dependency Management

Purpose	Command
Install dependencies	bun install
Add a package	bun add package-name
Add dev dependency	bun add -d package-name
Remove package	bun remove package-name
Upgrade dependencies	bun upgrade
Clean install (fresh lockfile)	rm -rf node_modules bun.lockb && bun install

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▶️ 3. Running the App

Purpose	Command
Start Expo dev server	bunx expo start
Start with clear cache	bunx expo start -c
Run on Android	bunx expo run:android
Run on iOS (Mac only)	bunx expo run:ios
Run on web	bunx expo start --web

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📱 4. Device & Emulator

Purpose	Command
Open Android emulator	bunx expo start --android
Open iOS simulator	bunx expo start --ios
Show QR code	bunx expo start

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🔧 5. Development Utilities

Purpose	Command
Run any CLI (npx alternative)	bunx <command>
Lint project	bunx eslint .
Format code	bunx prettier --write .
Type check (TS)	bunx tsc --noEmit

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🏗️ 6. Build & Production (Expo)

Purpose	Command
Install EAS CLI	bun add -g eas-cli
Configure build	bunx eas build:configure
Build Android	bunx eas build -p android
Build iOS	bunx eas build -p ios
Submit to store	bunx eas submit

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🔄 7. Expo Maintenance

Purpose	Command
Install Expo dependencies properly	bunx expo install <package>
Upgrade Expo SDK	bunx expo upgrade
Doctor (check issues)	bunx expo doctor
Prebuild (eject)	bunx expo prebuild

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⚙️ 8. Environment & Scripts

Purpose	Command
Run custom script	bun run <script>
Run dev script	bun run dev
Run build script	bun run build

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🧪 9. Testing

Purpose	Command
Run tests	bun test
Run Jest (if configured)	bunx jest

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⚡ Key Notes (Important)

• bunx = npx replacement
• Expo CLI works seamlessly with Bun
• Avoid using react-native init with Bun directly → Expo is smoother
• Bun handles installs much faster than npm/yarn

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💡 Typical Workflow (Real Dev Flow)

bun create expo myApp --template blank-typescript
cd myApp
bun install
bunx expo start

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⚠️ Limitations (as of now)

• Native modules may sometimes need fallback to npm/yarn
• iOS builds still depend on Xcode tooling (Bun doesn’t replace that)
• Some React Native CLI setups are not fully Bun-native yet